'I'm not a racist

I'm not a bigot'

Fire official 'deeply hurt' by allegation

A senior Chicago Fire Department supervisor showed up Friday for work, where he was officially informed that he has been put on paid administrative leave in connection with an alleged incident with racial overtones.

Donald Walsh, 51, an assistant deputy chief paramedic, insisted he was innocent of any wrongdoing and declared that he will be vindicated.

"The facts will come out," he said. "These allegations are not true."

The alleged incident occurred March 3, officials said. A paramedic field officer under Walsh's command has charged that Walsh asked whether a paramedic seeking time off because of a family emergency was black or white. When Walsh was informed the paramedic was African-American, Walsh allegedly told the field officer that a replacement would have to be found before the paramedic would be granted time off.

"This whole matter is an outrageous lie," said Walsh, who spoke to reporters outside the department's Field Division North headquarters, 1731 W. Byron St. "I'm deeply hurt by this. . . . I'm not a racist. I'm not a bigot."

As for the field officer who made the allegation, "his credibility will be addressed," Walsh said.

Fire officials have not identified the field officer.

Another department veteran, who has worked with the man, described him as a stickler for department regulations who is "a straight shooter" and "an outstanding paramedic." The co-worker asked not to be named.

The department's internal affairs investigators are seeking to determine the facts of the case and are expected to reach a conclusion in "days rather than weeks," said spokesman Larry Langford.

Langford did not know whether there were witnesses to the conversation between the field officer and Walsh.

The department is seeking to shake a long-standing problem of racial and ethnic tensions. Commissioner Raymond Orozco on Thursday promised "very rapid and decisive action" if the charges are substantiated.

"It saddens me that anyone in a position of authority in this department would display this type of poor judgment," Orozco said in a statement.

Langford on Friday said that the "general statement" was not meant to imply that a conclusion has been reached in the Walsh case.

If the conversation between Walsh and the field officer took place as alleged, "it was disappointing," Langford said. But the investigation must be completed before there is a determination, and "every department member is afforded due process," Langford said.